2024 Vegas NFR Icons

By Patrick Everson

In 1985, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo made its first ride in Las Vegas, after moving from Oklahoma City to the Thomas & Mack Center. That same year, brash rookie tie-down roper Joe Beaver competed in his first Wrangler NFR.

There were concerns in the rodeo community about whether the Thomas & Mack would work out. And there were concerns about whether Joe Beaver would work out. Traditionalists were not necessarily fans of either.

“I was as far from tradition as you could be in 1985. I was like, ‘Hell, let’s go to Vegas and have some fun. It sounds better than Oklahoma City.’ And it was,” Beaver said, noting things certainly worked out well for him and the T&M. “Both of us kind of surprised everybody.”

Beaver spoke those words during Friday afternoon’s ceremony for the Class of 2024 Vegas NFR Icons, at the Cowboy Corral, adjacent to the Thomas & Mack. Beaver was one of three honorees, joined by unparalleled team roping partners Speed Williams and Rich Skelton.

In that 1985 rookie season, Beaver won the first of five tie-down world championships, and he added three all-around gold buckles in his stellar career. He’ll watch his banner go up into the Thomas & Mack rafters Saturday night.

Williams and Skelton went on an unprecedented run of eight straight world championships in team roping, from 1997-2005. Their banners were raised to the rafters during Friday night’s second go-round.

Williams and Skelton were a bit more subdued, but just as grateful for the honor.

“I think it’s special that the NFR is honoring those who’ve had great moments at the Thomas & Mack,” Williams said. “It’s a pretty special honor, but not something I expected.”

Expected or not, the Icons status was much deserved. Skelton doesn’t see another pair of team ropers matching that run of success.

“If it does happen again, it’ll be a surprise,” Skelton said. “We put all the effort we could into it, and we had a lot of luck.”

Indeed, the duo approached every round as if they’d never had any success.

“It’s really easy to get humiliated. That cow doesn’t know if you have a gold buckle on or if you’ve never been to a rodeo,” Williams said.

All three honorees were grateful to have had such an impact on the NFR’s history at the Thomas & Mack. Beaver summed up the experience for all three.

“It’s gonna feel good seeing that banner up there. It’s a feeling of success,” Beaver said.